Watchman s signal system



April 8, 1947 E. A. SCHACHINGER Re. 22,864

WATCHMAN S I S IGNAL SYSTEM Original Filed Oct. 21, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l 7 'j I I 4 Q9 1 INVENTOR.

April 8, 1947. E. A; SCHACHINGER WATCHMANS SIGNAL SYSTEM Original Fi led Oct. 21, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Edward 19. JdtaI/d I i i I 4 I I I 4 I I 2 i i I I April 8, 1947. E. A. SCHACHINGER 22,364

WATCHMANS SIGNAL SYSTEM Original Filed Oct. 21 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet S I 10 INVENTOR,

Eda 4 1? fl Sr/zarkin er H TT'ORNE Reiasued Apr. 8, 1947 WATCHMANS SIGNAL SYSTEM Edward A. Schachinger, New York, N. Y.

Original No. 2,376,389, dated May 22, 1945, Serial No. 415,863, October 21, 1941. Application for reissue May 18, 1946, Serial No. 670,697

23 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a watchmans signal system and one of the objects of the invention is to provide a watchmans signalling system which not only requires actuation of a series of preliminary stations for each routine trip but also includes a novel arrangement designed to cause an alarm signal to be transmitted to a central or supervising station in the event an unauthorized person should attempt to operate the signalling system by making the rounds instead of the authorized watchman.

The invention has for a further object to provide a watchmans signalling system that is more positive as compared with prior systems in its assurance that the watchman shall be obliged to follow a predetermined tour of preliminary stations and which makes it practically impossible for the watchman or another to provide a duplicate key or keys which can be used to effect unauthorized actuations of the locks at any of such preliminary stations.

Other objects of the invention are indicated in the following outline of the features of the invention:

One of the features of the invention is the provision of at least one dummy preliminary station, the selection and location of which may only be known by two people and which should it be actuated during a routine trip will cause an alarm signal to be sounded.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a watchmans signalling system having a transmitter station and one or more preliminary stations so constructed, interconnected and situated as to require the watchman to make periodic routine trips and therefore periodic surveys of the property'and if the watchman fails to do so or tries to cut short the trip or if any unauthorized person meddles with the stations, such will result in an alarm which will call for an emergency check-up by those in charge.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a watchmans signalling system having a transmitter station and a plurality of preliminary stations together With means under the control of an authorized person to connectone of the preliminary stations as a dummy station which should it be actuated will condition the system so that an alarm signal will be transmitted upon the subsequent operation of the transmitter.

Another feature of the invention is to provide an automatic key combination changing lock for a series of watchmans routine stations and for other usage, the lock operating when actuated by the proper key to automatically change the tumbler combination of the lock so that for a subsequent operation a different predetermined key will be required.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of a combination lock for a series of watchmans routine stations and for other usage, the changeable combinations of the tumblers thereof being controlled by a combination changin key so that should the key for a particular tumbler combination become lost or stolen, the tumbler combination can be readily changed for a different key.

A further feature of the invention is to provide a type of lock station for a watchmans signalling system having a key compartment from which a key is adapted to be released when the lock is actuated.

A still further feature of the invention is to provide a transmitter station for a watchmans signalling system of the type which is adapted to be actuated by a key to effect transmission of a signal but which is provided with means to prevent repeated actuation of the lock thereof until 5 the transmitter has had sufficient time to transmit the signal.

The above and additional objects and features of the invention are obtained by providing a transmitter station and a plurality of preliminary stations each of which has a lock, a switch and means operable upon actuation of the lock to change the switch from one to another position. The several stations are electrically interconnected so as to require the watchman to actuate the locks of the stations according to a predetermined plan before he can transmit a routine signal by actuation of the transmitter station, and that should the preliminary stations not be actuated according to the plan an alarm signal Will result instead.

Two of the preliminary stations are provided with dummy locks, that is to say, the locks are actuatable by any of the keys or by a master key which may be used'with the system. Means are provided to selectively connect one of the two preliminary stations as a dummy preliminary station which is not intended according to the plan of operation to be actuated during the watchman's routine trip.

Each of the preliminary stations is provided with a key compartment adapted to receive the key which has been used to actuate the lock of that particular station, together with means to release another key from the compartment for use on the lock of the next succeeding station in by the combination 3 the series. The two stations selectable as the dummy station are provided with master keys in their key compartments which are usable on any of the other preliminary stations in the system. The primary purpose of the dummy stations is to catch any intruder who might meddle with the system. It is even efiective in foiling unauthorized operation of the system by those who are acquainted with the system since the selection can be changed should the watchman or any other employee familiar with the system leave employment. This is accomplished by providing a lock controlled switch by which one or the other of the two stations is selected as either a regular preliminary station or as a dummy preliminary station. The two stations are actuatable by any key in the seriesso that should a person obtain a key of the system he may, in an effort to locate the corresponding station, actuate the selected dummy station which when actuated will condition the system so that upon subsequent actuation of the transmitter analarm ignal will result. Also, actuation of the dummy station will release a master key so that the in.. truder will not be suspicious that anything other I than routine has happened.

Any alarm signal or a failure of a routine signal to come in at the time intervals planned will in effect result in an alarm at the central station so that a prompt check-up may be made to determine the trouble.

In one embodiment of the invention each of the stations with the exception of the two selective stations and the transmitter station is providedwith an automatic combination changing 10 k which is so constructedthat when the lock is actuated, a change in the tumbler combination ofthe lock is caused so that the lock can only be actuatable thereafter by a different predetermined key. This type of-lock requires the watchman to survey the propert along a predeterminedroute because heis required to actuate the locks in a predetermined sequence.

In another embodiment of the invention the stations are each provided with a lock of the multiple-combination type wherein the tumbler combination can only be changed by a combination changing key. With the stations provided with this type of look, only one key is used by the watchman. the locks .for use with a diiferent key, the superintendent or other authorized person actuates eachilockby the combination changing ke and issues a new key. The locks thereafter will then be actuatable only by the new key'and of course,

changing key.

.The transmitter station is provided with a winding device which is adapted-to be wound upon actuation of the lock and when released upon the return movement of the key it will operate to transmit a code signal. The mechanism for actuation of the winding device is provided withme'an's whereby the lock cannot be repeatedly actuated except after a complete signal has been transmitted after each lock actuation. The transmitter station is so connected electrically with the preliminary stations that a routine signal can only betransmitted after proper actuation of a predetermined series of preliminary stations.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following detailed description to be read in connection 'Withthe accompanying drawings, in'which: I 7

"Fig.1 isa diagrammatic illustration of a watch- When it is desirable to change tially along line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantial'y along line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 6-li of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a'fragmentary vertical sectional view of a preliminary station;

Fig. 8 is a view in vertical elevation taken substantially along line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line 99 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view of a dummy station selection switch taken substantially along line lQ-IIJ of Fig. 11;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially along line I |l of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view of an automatic key combination changing lock, which may be used with certain of the preliminary stations, shown with'a key inserted therein;

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view of the lock shown in Fig. 12 with the key removed;

F.'g. 14 is a plan view of the key-way shaft of the lock shown in Figs. 12 and 13;

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line l5-l 5 of Fig. 12;

Fig. lfiis a perspective view of a combination changing sleeve of the lock shown in Figs. 12 to 15;

1 Fig. 17 is a vertical sectional view of another form of combination lock which may be used with a group of watchmans stations;

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the key-way shaft used in the lock shown in Fig. 17;

Fig. 19'is a view of the right-hand halfof the lock shown in Fig. 17 with the key removed;- and Fig. 20 is the same view as Fig. 19 with a key shown in the lock.

Referring to Figs. '1 and 2 of the drawings, I have shown a seriesof stations adapted to be located at various places on the property so that a watchman will be required to makeperiodically a complete survey of the property in order to actuate each or at least a predetermined series of the stations before he can transmit his periodic routine signals. The system of stations is very elasticand may comprise besides one transmitter station, one or any desired number of preliminary stations. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a set of six stations has been chosen for purposes of illustration. The set comprises one transmitter station T and live preliminary stations A1, B1, B2, A2 and A3, and a selector switch SS by which one of the preliminary stations B1 and B2 can be selectively selected as a dummy station which is to'be avoided by-the watchman during his routine trips.

. More particularly, the preliminary station B1 or B2, whichever is selected by the position of the switch SS, has the same appearance as the other preliminary stations and is connected into the system so that should 'it' be unwittingly actuated by an intruder or other person bent on performing mischief its actuation will condition the system so that when the transmitter stationT is actuated an alarm signal will be efiected instead of the usual routine signal. Thus during a watchmans trip to survey the property he will, on leaving the transmitter Station T, actuate first the preliminary station A1, then avoid the station B1 or B2, whichever has been selected by the setting of the switch SS, and actuate the one not selected, then actuate stations A2 and A3 and finally the transmitter station T.

A signal receiver R. is placed in a central location or at an oflice and may be provided with any suitable sounding and/or recording instruments, In the form diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the receiver R is provided with a routine signal sounding device RS and an alarm sounding device AS. The devices RS and AS give different audible signals so that an attendant can readily distinguish alarm signals from periodic routine signals, The system, as will be hereinafter more particularly brought out, can have besides a routine signal three types of alarm warnings. These are, depending on the operation of the system, an audible alarm signal, a double signal as when both routine and alarm signals are sounded simultaneously and the omission of the periodic routine signal which in effect is a warning that something has happened to the watchman.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings, the transmitter station T comprises a housing 29 havingmounted therein a suitable lock 22, the key-way shaft 24 of which is adapted to be coupled with a shaft 25 mounted in frame members 25 and 2?. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 25 is a high and low lobe cam to which is secured on one side thereof a four-toothed ratchet 32 and on the other side thereof a stabilizing hub portion 34. Carried by the shaft 25 is a pawl 35 which is biased by a spring 36 against the ratchet 32. The pawl 35 is adapted to engage the teeth on the ratchet and move the ratchet and the cam 33 through an angle of 90 each time the shaft 25 is actuated by the key-way shaft 24. The cam 35 adapted to engage a movable contact 33 for successive engagement with contacts BI and 82 as the low and high portions of the cam are moved beneath the contact 80.

The stabilizing element 34 is provided with four flat faces engageable by a flat faced detent 38 contained in a bore 39 in a block 40 which is mounted on a wall of the housing 20. The detent 3B is biased against the element 34 by a spring 42 to insure proper positioning of the cam 30 for each actuation of the lock. The block 46 also contains a bore 44 within which a cam position indicator 45 is adapted to move. The indicator is biased upwardly by a spring 45 against the cam 3d and its positions are detectable through an opening 41.

Each station is provided with an indicator 45 so that the. superintendent or other authorized person can determine by inspection the setting of each station should routine operation be interrupted. Thus the system can easily be reconditioned for resumption of routine operation without dismantling any of the stations,

Carried on the shaft 25 is also a winding arm 48 by which the spring drive of an escapement mechanism 50 can be wound to effect transmission of signals. The mechanism 50 is provided on a shaft with a pair of springs 5| and 52 (Fig. 5) which are relatively weak so that their resistance to winding is not too great for an average size key and yet strong enough that when wound they will provide adequate power to operate the escapement mechanism and the associated code transmitter. The arm 48 is adapted to engage an arm 54 carried by the shaft 55 to wind the springs 51 and 52. The normal position of the arm 54 is determined by an arm 6| adapted to engage a stop 63. The escapement mechanism is provided with suitable reduction gearing 5% (Fig. 6) and a code transmitter 60 is carried by a shaft 62 thereof.

The code transmitter 65 is shown as comprising a. disk having two sets of eleven teeth each, which when the. disk is revolved 360 actuate a switch contact 64 relative to a contact 65 to send two groups of successive impulses over the circuit of the system. The number of impulses transmitted indicate the watchmans number or the identity of the transmitter station from which the signal is transmitted, it being understood that the signals can have any number of impulses per group and any number of groups; also that the system can have more than one transmitter station and that each such station can have a different signal.

To prevent anyone from actuating the transmitter T again before it has been given sufficient time to transmit a signal, a safety hook 66 is provided to engage a lug B1 on an arm 68 pivoted at 69 on the frame Ill. The arm 68 is provided with a cam surface 14 biased by a spring 76 toward 3, lug 15 on the arm 54. As the arm 5d becomes unwound the lug 15 pivots the arm 68 to a position removing the lug 61 thereon out of the path of the hook 66. Thus, whenever the transmitter has completed transmission of a signal, the lug (if reaches a position where it permit-s actuation of the lock 22 and the arm 48 connected thereto.

When, for example, the look 22 is actuated !by a key the shaft 25 is revolved counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 3, causing the arm 48 to engage and force the arm 54 clockwise to wind the springs 5| and 52. During the clockwise r0- tation of the arm 54 the lug 15 moves along the cam surface 14 to permit the spring 16 to urge the lug 67 against the outer surface of the safety hook 85. When the key-way shaft 24 and the shaft 25 are retracted by reverse movement of the key, the hook 68 is revolved clockwise and the spring 16 snaps the lug 61 in front of the hook 66. (See Fig. 6.)

As the escapement mechanism drives the transmitter 6D, the arm 54 revolves counterclockwise and the lug l5 thereon engages the cam surface '24 to gradually pivot the arm 68 clockwise and thereby move the lug 61 out of the path of the hook 65 so that by the time the arm BI engages the stop 63 the lug 61 will have cleared the hook G5.

The preliminary stations A1, B1, B2, A2 and A3 are identical in construction and equipment, except that the stations B1 and B2 are each provided with a switch having five contacts instead of three and a dummy lock, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the preliminary station A1 is shown as representative of the preliminary stations and since many parts thereof are identical to parts used in the transmitter station, such identical parts are identified by the same reference characters. As in the transmitter. station T, the housing 85 of the station A1 is provided with a lock 22, the key-Way shaft 24 of which is coupled to the shaft 25 suitably supported in frame elements 26 and 21, and the shaft 25 is provided with a switch contact cam 330, a ratchet 32, pawl 35 and.aistabilizenhubcfl. .zAssociated with the switch contact cam 30:15 -.a :cam .-.position:indicatorr45sand, a movable contactt90 'which is adapted toxengage contacts 9| .and.32,' depending on :whether thelow or high :portion of the cam,is in engagement with the .contact 90.

The preliminary. stations are each provided with a key compartmentz'fl-l defininga narrow passageway extending from a narrow key inlet slot-93 in the upper wall of they housing. 85 down- .awardly. to a corresponding discharge slot 95 at the =bottom thereof. Pivotally mounted .at 91 adjacent the key compartment is a movable frame -96 biased by a spring .93so that a pair of lug :100 .and I02'thereon are normally held ina position in which they extend transversely of the :compartment. *Whena. key is dropped intothe -compartment,.the head portion I03 of the key is engaged by .thelugs I and I02 to support the keywithinxthe. compartment (Figs. '7 and 8). ;The-frame 90 is providedwith a cam surface I04 which is engageable by an. arm I05 carried by the "shaft 25. During actuation of the lock 22 1 thearm I05 isrotated and removes the lugs I03 and I02 fromkey. supporting position to a key releasing position indicated in Fig. 9. This per- "mits the key todropdownwardly in the key com- ,partment and engage a pair of spring elements I00 and I09 which .releasably retain the key within easy access of the watchman.

Referring to; Figs 12 to 16 of the drawings, "an automatic vcombinationlock 22 --is disclosed which may be used in the transmitter station'T and the preliminary stations A1, A2 and A3 so as to require the watchman tomake his routine trips to the several stations in a predetermined .sequence. Theautomatic lock comprises a bar- -rel' I'I0 Within: which is mounted the key-way shaft 24 and. a. pin tumbler magazine I I2. The .magazine has a row of sockets II3 each containing a pin 5 and-a spring II'I. Surrounding the magazine H2 is a combination changing .sleeve I I-l which is provided with a plurality of longitudinal rows MB of apertures IIB (Fig. 16);

Each apertureIIB is circumferentially in line with a pin tumbler H5. The look as illustrated has eight pin tumblers. There are, therefore, eight circumferential lines upon which apertures II8 may fall. In other words, there are eight aperture positions along each longitudinal line of the sleeve M4,: any combination of which 'may'be employed to form a single row H5. The number of rows II 6 is limited only by the circumferenceof the sleeve H4 and the size of the apertures IIB.

For the set ofsix stations illustratedin Figs.

1 and 2, the lock may be provided With five rows H8 or in other Words with five different key combinations. Sleeveswith a lesser or greater number of rows IIS can beprovided and for systems having eleven'stations, forv example, the sleeve will be provided with ten rows IIB. For still larger systems; duplication of sets, either of sixor 'eleven stations'or both can be provided. the sixth or eleventh station, as the case may -be,'being a transmitter station from which signals are transmitted.

It is of course obvious that any desired number -of'pin tumblers may be employed, a set of eight pin" tumblers being shown anddescribed for purpose of illustration. The key-way shaft 24 is provided withv a rowof eight sockets I 25'inwhich ;.are .d-isposedalike number of tumbler pins I26.

.xlssuming that thesleeve I I4 is in such a positumbler pins I I5.

.tionithat thc'flrst, third, sixth and eighth pins amount necessary to move the corresponding pins H5 until the lower ends thereof no longer extend beyond the sleeve. In this position thekey is permitted to turn and actuate the-shaft.

Uponactuation of the key, the sleeve H4 is moved one position so as to bring the next adjacent row of apertures into alignment with the Thisis accomplished by a pair of gears I and I32, the gear I30 being rotatably carried on the key-way shaft 24 and the gear I32 being fixed to the magazine H2. The sleeve H4 is provided at one end thereof with a circumferential row of notches I34 (Fig. 16). The magazine H2 is provided with a cam shaped detent I35 contained in a socket I36 which is adapted to engage the notched portion of the sleeve II4 for movement with the magazine in one direction and to slip under the notched portion when the movement of the magazine is reversed. Mounted on the end of the barrel H0 is a pawl I40 (Fig. 15) which is biased by a spring I42 so as to engage the notched portion of the sleeve H4. The gear I30 has an opening I44 to receive the inner end I45 of the -kcy I28. When the key-way shaft 24 is actuated,

the gear I30 is engaged by the inner end portion M5 of the key I28 during the 90 turn of the key-way shaft causing the gear I30 which revolves clockwise (Fig. 15) to drive the gear I32 counterclockwise past the pawl I40. The movement of the gears I30 and I32 causes the sleeve II4 due to the detent I35 to be revolved with the magazine. During the reverse movement of the key-wa shaft the pawl I40 is adapted to engage one ofthe notches I34 and hold the sleeve I I4 in an advanced position while the detent I35 is adapted to pass beneath the notched portion of the sleeve. To accurately center the row of recesses N3, of the magazine II2 with the selected row of apertures of the sleeve II4, a, spring biased detent- I40 is provided in the magazine as indicated inbroken lines in Fig. 13. Thus when a key has been used to actuate the lock and has been withdrawn therefrom, the sleeve II4 will have been moved from one combination position to another.

The same key therefore cannot be used to repeat theactuation until the lock has been successively actuated by all the other keys corresponding to the series of combinations.

in order to minimize the chance of anyone picking the lock, the barrel I I0 is provided with a pawl I (Figs. 12, 13 andl5) which is biased by a-spring I52 to aposition extending into the key-way shaft. When a key is inserted, the inner end of the key is adapted to dislodge the pawl 50 (Fig. 12) so that it will not interfere with the operation of the lock. Thus, anyone attempting to pick the lock must not only force the tumbler pins upwardly on one side of the shaft but must also force the pawl I 50 outwardly on the other side.

The key-wa shaft 24 is provided at one end thereof with a pin I54 which is engageable with stoppins-|55 and "I55 mounted on an end plate -'tumblers-are-omitted so that any key for. the "series ofcombinations will actuate them. In

such dummy locks the gears I30 and I32 as well as the magazine H2 may be omitted for reasons of economy.

The transmitter station T, while shown as provided with an automatic lock 22 may for simplicity be provided instead with a dummy lock the same as stations B1 and B2. With a dummy lock, the transmitter station may then be actuated by any key used in the system. Where the station T is provided with an automatic lock, the setting of the sleeve I I4 thereof is the same as the next successive station A1. The watchman, of course, will in this case have a master key to actuate station T when he wishes to transmit an alarm signal.

The preliminary stations Bi and B2 are adapted to be selectively so connected as to transform the station so selected into a dummy station which is to be avoided by the watchman during his routine trips. This selection is accomplished by operation of a selective switch SS shown in Figs. 2, and 11. The switch SS comprises a housing I60 containing a block of insulation I62 through which a shaft I63 extends and is coupled at I54 to the key-way shaft I65 of a suitable lock I10. Pivotally mounted on the shaft I 63 is an insulated arm I12 having a conductor segment I14. The block I52 is provided with a plurality of engageable contacts I15, I15, I11, I19 and I19,

each constituting a movable pin I80 biased by a spring I82 to a position engageable by the segment I14. The segment is of such a size and shape as to electrically connect when in one position contacts I15, I16 and I11 (Fig. 2) and in another position contacts I15, I18 and I19,

Movement of the segment I14 from one position to another is accomplished by an arm I68 carried on the shaft I 63. the arm being adapted to engage, during operation of the lock, a bolt I13 carried on the arm I12. The lock I10 may be of any desired type and for purposes of illustration may be of the type shown in Figs. 17 and 18 to be hereinafter described.

The switch SS and the several switches or the stations are interconnected by a circuit illustrated in Fig. 2. A suitable source of electricity either from batteries or from any other available source is provided for the system through wires 200 and 20I. The wire 20I is connected to the movable contact 64 operated by the signal transmitter 60. The contact 55 engageable by contact 54 is connected by a wire 202 to the movable contact 80 of the transmitter station the relative position of which with respect to contacts BI and 82 is controlled by the cam 30.

Each of the preliminary stations is provided with three contacts similar to the contacts 90, SI and B2 of the transmitter station T. These contacts are: For station A1, 90, 9| and 92; for station B1, 259, 25I and 252; for station B2, 2'"), HI and 212; for station A2, 280, 2BI and 282; and for station A3, 299, 29! and 292.

Wire 203 connects contact BI to contacts 92, 25!, 21I, 282 and 292. Wire 2I0 connects contact 82 to the contacts 9|, 262, 212, 28I and HI. Wire 204 connects the movable contacts 90, 280 and 290 of stations A1, A2 and A3, and also the movable contacts 264 and 214 of the stations B1 and B2 to the alarm signalling device AS. Movable contact 269 of station B1 is connected by a wire 2535 to the contact I19 of the switch SS. Likewise the movable contact 210 of station B2 is connected by Wire 206 to the contact I16 and contacts 255 and 215 of the stations B1 and B2 are connected by wires 201 and 208 to contacts I11 and I18 respectively. The contact I15 of the selective switch SS which is always engaged by the segment I14 is connected by wire 209 to the routine signalling device ES. The wire 200 from the source of electricity is connected to both signalling devices RS and AS so that whenever the circuit is completed for either one or both of the devices, either a routine or an alarm signal or a double (routine and alarm) signal will be sounded.

The circuit connections are such that when all of the preliminary stations have been actuated according to a predetermined plan, that is, with all of the switch actuating cams moved to either vertical or horizontal positions, the selected dummy static-n B1 or B2, as the case may be, being disregarded, a routine signal will be transmitted to the receiver station R upon operation of the transmitter 60. This circuit condition can be readily traced in Fig. 2 wherein the cams are all shown in vertical position. As the transmitter 60 revolves through 360 to actuate the switch contact 64 and 65, electrical impulses will be conducted over a circuit including the Wire 2M, contacts 64, 55, wire 20 2, contacts 80, 8I, wire 203, contacts 210, 21I, wire 206, contact I15, segment I14,.contact I15 and wire 209 to the routine signalling device RS. The contacts I19, 92, 282' and 292 being disengaged for the condition illustrated" in Fig. 2, no other circuit is completed. If any one or all of the stations A1, B2, A2 and A3 were not actuated to the positions indicated in Fig. 2, an alarm signal would be effected upon operation of the transmitter, since each such. station, if not actuated according to plan will provide a circuit connection to wire'204 and thence to the alarm signalling device AS. This will become more apparent on consideration of the table hereinbelow and the tracing of circuits for difierent conditions.

The circuits completed by various combinations of switch positions may easily be traced in Fig. 2 to determine whether a routine signal, an alarm signal, a double signal (routine and alarm) or no signal at all (silence) is transmitted upon operation of the transmitter 60. The following table gives the signal results for various combinations with the stations B1 selected by the selector switch SS (Fig. 2) as the dummy station.

Table Cam positions of stations The circuit for the cam positions of condition No. 1 of the table has been heretofore traced. The circuit for the cam positions of condition No. 2 includes wire 202, contacts 80, 82, wire 2I0,,contacts 212, 210, wire 206, contact I16,

I 11] segment H4; contact Il:and"wlre- 209 to the: routine signalling, device RS.

Conditions 3' and 4 each effect an alarm upon operation .of the transmitter. This is easily-seen in..Fig. 2 since three circuitsyfor each such condition are provided-through the contacts ofsta tions' A1, A2 and A3 to the wire 204*leading to the'alarm'signalling deviceAS.

Taking-thecam positions of conditionNo. 5 of the'table, thatis; with the cam of station A1 horizontal and all others in the vertical, the circuit includes wire 202, contacts 80,- 81, Wire 203,-contacts-92, 90'and wire 204 to the alarm signalling device AS. A parallel circuit to the one just described also exists for condition No. 5. Leading fromwire 203 thesecond circuit passesthrough contacts 2', 210 and on through the wire 206, routine signallingdevice RS. Thus a double signal, both routine and alarm, is'sounded. Such a. double signal naturally is interpreted as an alarm and an emergency check-up will be carried out.

The cam positionsfor conditions Nos. 6, 9-, 10 and 11 provide parallel circuits similar to those of condition No. 5 and double signals will be effected upon operation, of the transmitter.

Taking the positions of the cams for condition No. 7 thecircuit-from wire 202. includes contacts 00', 8|, wire203 to the contacts. 92, 26I, 2', 282 and 292, each -of. which endsin a broken circuit. Thus no circuit will have been completed to either of the .sounding devices and no signal will there-- fore result. The failure of an audible routine signal, however, is regardedas an alarm, because when. a routinesignal is not sounded at theplannedintervals such constitutes a warning. that something has happened to thewa-tchman.

When. the. dummy preliminary been. unwittingly actuated by a,.person not. ac..-

quainted withthe setting of. the selector switch- SS an alarm signal is certain to be transmitted- Forthe positions indicated by condition-No. 13, the circuit includeswire 202, contacts 80, 8|, wire.

203. contacts 2'H,.210 and wire 205- to contact I16'of theswit'ch SS. From here on there are One of the circuits is two parallel circuits.- through contact I through the wire 209to the routine Signalling device RS. The other circuit is through contact Ill, wire 201, contacts 265, 264 and wire 204- to the alarm signalling-device AS. Thus a double signal will be sounded warning the attendant at the central ofiice that an intruder is meddling with the system.

Similar signallin results, as set forth in the table, will take place when station B2 is selected as the dummy station. This isaccomplished by. shifting the switch S'S'to connect contacts I75, I18 and I 19.

It will also be understood that the circuit connections; are suchthat wh'en two or more of. the. stations vary in cam position fromthe proper positioningof theecams of the-other stations, a warning signal; either alarm, double or.silence.- willresult. i I

It will also be observed that'the-preliminary stations A1,.A2 andAshave identical connections in the control circuit. This makes for flexibility in the number of premliminary stations which can be provided for a system and for any desired location thereof with respect to the stations B1 and B2. Any number of"A stations can be connected to asystem-by merely connecting them tothe wires 203 204 and 210, as is indicated by the connections of the stations-A1, A2 and As.

switch SS and the wire 209 to the station B1 has In addition to the above arrangementand se-- lection of dummyalarm'stations, the-Watchman. will be required, when the system is provided with the automatic combination lock as hereinstations in a predetermined sequence.

tion T which when actuated will send in a routine signal. This sequence of operation is required by the automatic lock which as previously described changes the key combination of'the lock each time the lock is actuated. Starting.

with an initial key, the Watchman. will first actuate the lock of station A1 and when the lock is returned to normal'position and the key removed, the Watchman will drop. the key in the slot 93 (Figs. 7 and. 8) and take the key dropped by actuation of the lock to releasable position'in the lower end of thekey compartment 94. With. this key the watchmanwill continue to station. B2, having passed the now dummy station BL.

The key compartments of stations Bi and B2,

however, are supplied with master keys which.

may be used to actuate any one of the combination settings of the locks of the other stations. The master keys are so constructed as to merely actuate thelock without advancing the combination sleeve H4. Therefore, the use of. a master key in rotation with the other keys of the system does not interfere with the lock combination feature of the invention. The watchman, however, goes through the same operation at station B2 and again at stations A2 and As each time using the key received from the key compartment for operation of the lock of the next succeeding station. When the switch SS is thrown over to change from B1 to B2 as the dummy station it' one of the series of stations to be actuated and avoiding the station B2.

Thelock 'of the transmitter station may like-- Wise be an automatic lock or it may be' a dummy type of lock actuatable by any of'the keys in a system astherein' explained.

Shouldanyone not acquainted with the setting of the switchSS attempt to transmit routine signals he will not know which station is the dummy station which must be avoided, even if he is aware of its existence. Thus, an intruder will most likely actuate the dummy station B1 which will release a key the same as at any of the other preliminary stations except that it will be a master key. The intruder without suspecting anything Wrong will then take the master key and go on to. the'next succeedin station and so on to the transmitter stationT. When, how-' ever, he actuates the transmitterstation,instead otiztransmitting a. routine signal he will eflect analarm signal.

binationlock 22. The lock 300 is also a-combi-- The intruder will be unaware I that he has caused an alarm instead of "the rounation type of lock and is in many details the same as the lock 22 of Figs. 12 to 16. The chief differences are in the construction of the key-way shaft 302 and the number of tumbler pins. The other parts which are present in the automatic lock '22 have been for expediency identified by corresponding reference characters.

The key-way shaft 302 is provided with a row of sockets 304 with cut-away parts 306 and 308 intersecting all of the sockets except one at 3|0. The cut-away portions 306 and 308 are on the same side of the row of sockets so that the combination changing key 3l2 can only be revolved in one direction, that is counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 17. When the key M2 is inserted in the lock (Fig. 17) it is adapted to raise the pins 3|4 thereof so as to release the key-way shaft from the pins 3l5 and 315. The fifth pin 3I4 at 3l0 extends downwardly into the key-way shaft and is engaged by a notch 3I8 in the combination changing key 3|2 so that only a key of this character can be used to change the combination of the lock. It will be understood that the location of the part M and the notch 3I8 can be varied for different sets of locks.

Fig. 19 illustrates the relative positioning of the tumbler pins 314, 3I5 and 3l0 when no key is in the lock. The key-way shaft is effectively held against rotation by the pins 3 l 5, such as the three shown extending through the sleeve H4. Fig. shows the presence of one of the selectable keys in the lock with the tumbler pins so disposed as to provide a break at each of the apertures in the combination row for which the" sleeve 4' is positioned. In Fig. 1'7, the second, third, sixth and seventh tumbler pins 315 are shown extending through the sleeve H4 into the cut-away areas 306 and 308. While these pins will prevent clockwise movement of the combination changing key 312 (Fig. 1'?) they do not prevent counterclockwise movement thereof because of the cut-away portions 306 and 308 function to raise the pins 3I5 inwardly of the sleeve 4' prior to movement of the sleeve from one tumbler combination position to another.

Each of the locks 300 is provided with a lug 325 (Figs. 17, 19 and 20) which is adapted to engage the head of the key 326 to render the key movable in the direction (clockwise) opposite to the movement (counterclockwise) of the combination changing key 3 l 2 when the key is inserted in the lock. The key 3l2 is provided with a notch 328 so that the lug 325 cannot interfere with its movement. The clockwise and counterclockwise movements of the keys 3 I2 and 326 can, of course, be interchanged, if desired, by relocating the lug 325 and by having the cut-away portions 306 and 308 on the side of the shaft opposite from their location shown in Fig. 18.

To limit the movement of the shaft 302 in its clockwise or counterclockwise movements, as the case may be, I provide the shaft with a pin 330 which is adapted to engage the stationary stop lugs 332 and 334. The location of the stop 334 will depend upon the circumferential spacing between the rows IIB' of apertures in the sleeve H4.

The inner end 320 of the key 3I2 is adapted to extend through the opening I44 in the gear I to actuate the gear so as to drive the gear I32 and thereby the magazine H2 and the sleeve H4, as hereinbefore described, whereby the sleeve H4 is advanced to a new key combination position..

The watchman will use but one key for all stations when th system is provided with this type of'lock, it being understood, of course, that all the locks will be set alike, and should the key become lost or stolen, the superintendent or other authorized person may, by using the combination changing key 3I2 actuate each of the locks and issue a new key to the watchman. Thus, by using this type of look there will be no need of replacing the several looks when a key becomes missing or the authorities become suspicions that some unauthorized person. has obtained a duplicate key. Since this type of lock does not use the rotation idea of keys, any number of stations can be used and the key compartments can be omitted.

While but one form of circuit, transmitter station and preliminary station and but two alternative forms of locks therefor have been disclosed, it is to be understood that various changes in the details of the structure of the several parts and also changes in the circuit connections and switches as well as the arrangement of the several parts may be made without departing from the invention, which is not to be regarded as limited otherwise than as indicated by the language of the appended claims.

I claim:

I. A watchmans signal system comprising a transmitter station and at least one preliminary station, the transmitter and preliminary stations each having a lock, a switch having two contact positions and means operable upon actuation of the lock of each station to change the switch thereof from one to the other of said positions, a signal device, and circuit means connecting said device to the switch of each station, said circuit means being controlled by the relative positioning of said switches to establish one or another of two circuit conditions at said signal device, one circuit condition to effect an alarm when the lock of the transmitter station is actuated and the other to efiect a routine signal when the lock of the transmitter station is actuated.

2. A watchmans signal system comprising a transmitter station and a plurality of preliminary stations, said transmitter and said preliminary stations each having a lock, a switch having two contact positions and means operable upon actuation of the lock of each station to change the switch thereof from one to the other of said positions, a signal device, circuit means connecting said, device to the switch of each station, said circuit means being controlled by the relative positioning of the station switches to provide any one of a plurality of circuit conditions, one circuit condition being formed by a predetermined positioning of said switches and other circuit conditions being formed should any of said switches fail to be in said predetermined positioning, said one circuit condition operating to effect a routine signal upon actuation of the lock of the transmitter station and said other circuit conditions operating to effect an alarm when the lock of said transmitter station is actuated, and means for connecting one of said preliminary stations as a dummy station which, should it be actuated along with the other stations, will provide a circuit conditionwhich will operate to efiect an alarm upon actuation of the lock of the transmitter station regardless of the positioning of the switches of the other stations.

3. A watchmans signal system comprisin a transmitter station and a plurality of preliminary stations, said transmitter and said preliminary stations each having a look, a switch having two contact positions and means operable upon actuation of the lock of each-station to change the switch thereof'ifrom one to the other of said positionsa signal device, circuit means connectin'grsaid device to the switch of each station, said circuit means being controlled by the relative positioning of the switches of the transmitter stationv andat least one of the preliminary stations to: provide one or another of two circuit conditions," one circuit condition to effect an alarm when the lock of the transmitter station is actuated an'd'the other to efiect a routine signal when the lock of the transmitter station is actuated, another preliminary station having a two-position switch connected therewith, and means connecting in circuit the switch of such other preliminary station so as to establish it as a dummy station which should it be actuated will establish a circuit condition such that upon subsequent operation of the lock of the transmitter station an alarm will 'be effected regardless of the positioning of switches of the transmitter station and said first-mentioned preliminary stations.

4'. A watchmans signal system comprising a transmitter station and at least two preliminary stations, said transmitter and preliminary stations each having a lock, 9, switch having a plurality of contact positions and means operable upon actuation of the lock to change the switch from one to the other of said positions, a signal device, circuit means connecting said device to the switches of said stations, at least a given one of thepreliminary stations having routine signalling contacts and separate alarm contacts, and means for selectively connecting in circuit either the routine contacts or the alarm contacts of said given station.

5. A watchmans signal system comprising a transmitter station and at least two preliminary stations, said transmitter and preliminary stations each having a look, a switch having a plurality of contact positions, and means operable upon actuation of the lock to change the switch from one to the other of said positions, said two preliminary stations each having routine signalling contacts and also alarm contacts, a signal device, and means to selectively connect in circuit with said signal device the routine contacts only of one of the stations and the alarm contacts only "of another of said stations.

'6- A watchmans signal system comprising a transmitter station and a plurality of preliminary stations, said transmitter and preliminary stations each having a lock, a switch having a plurality of contact positions and means operabe upon actuation of the lock to change the switch from one to the other of said positions, the locks of at least certain of 'the preliminary stations being each actuatable by a different key, a signal device, and circuit means so connecting said device in circuit with the switches that when each switch is in a predetermined contact position upon operation of the transmitter a routine signal is transmitted and should any of the switches fail to be in the predetermined contact position upon operation of the transmitter an alarm is efiected.

7. A watchmans signal system comprising a transmitter station, a plurality of preliminary station-s, said transmitter and preliminary stations each having a look, a switch and means operable upon actuation of the lock to change the switch from one to another contact position, the locks of at least certain of the stations each being provided with a tumbler combination determining element, said certain stations each having a key compartment, means operable upon actuation of the lock to change the tumbler combination thereof for the next to release a key from the-key compartment suitable for actuation of the 1001: at the neXt'succeeding station, and a circuit so associated with the switches that when each switch is in a predetermined position upon actuation of the transmitter a routine signal is transmitted and should any of the switches fail to be in the predetermined position upon actuation of the transmitter an alarm is effected.

8. A watchmans signal system comprising a transmitter station, at least one preliminary station, said transmitter and preliminary stations each having a look, a switch and means operable upon actuation of the lock to change the switch from one to another position, the locks each having a tumbler adapted to be set to permit actuation of the look by a predetermined key, a combination changing key, means actiiatable by said combination changing key to move the combination determining element of each look from one combination position to another to permit actuation of the look by a difierent predetermined key, a signal device, and circuit means connecting said device with the switches to provide a routine signa1 condition when each switch is in a predetermined position upon actuation of the transmitter, and an alarm condition should either of the switches fail to be in the predetermined position upon actuation of the transmitter.

9. A watchmans signal system' comprising a transmitter station and at least one preliminary station, said transmitter and preliminary stations each having a look, a switch having two contact positions and a cam movable from one position to another upon actuation of the lock to change the switch from one to the other of said contact positions, a signal device, and circuit means connecting said device with the switch of each station, said circuit means being controlled by the positions of the switches to establish a routine signallin condition when the switches are in a corresponding position upon operation of the transmitter, and establishing an alarm signaling condition should the switches fail to be in corresponding position upon actuation of the transmitter.

10. A watchmans signal system comprising a transmitter station and at least one preliminary station, said transmitter and preliminary stations each having a look, a switch having two contact positions and means operable upon operation of the lock to change the switch from one to the other of said contact positions, said transmitter station having code transmitting contacts and driving mean-s therefor, said driving means being movable by actuation of the lock of said transmitter station, circuit means controlled by the contact positions a .routine signalling, condition when the switches are in corresponding positions upon actuation of the transmitter lock,v and means operable when said driving means is moved by actuation. of the transmitter lock to prevent repeated actuationof the lock until a complete signal has been transmitted.

11. A watchmanssignal system comprising a,

transmitter station, a plurality of preliminary stations, said transmitter and preliminary eta-- a lock, a switch and means,

tions each having, operable upon actuation of the lock to change the switch from one to another contact position,

the locks of. at least certain of the stations each.

being provided with a tumbler combination desubsequent operation and combination determining element of said switches to establish.

termlning element, means operable upon actuation of the lock to change the tumbler combination thereof for the next sub-sequent operation, and a circuit so associated with the switches that when each switch is in a predetermined position upon actuation of the transmitter a routine signal is transmitted and should any of the switches fail to be in the predetermined position upon actuation of the transmitter an alarm is effected.

12. A signal transmitting station for a watchmans signalling system comprising a code transmitter for transmitting signals, power means for driving said code transmitter, a lock, means operatively connecting said lock to said power means to energize said power means upon operation of said lock and disconnectible from said power means during transmission of a signal, and means actuated by said power means during transmission of the signal and operatively engaging said connecting means for preventing repeated actuation of said lock while said power means is energized and actuated by said power means to release said connecting means from said engagement upon deenergizing of said power means.

13. A watchmans signalling system comprising a plurality of tour stations each having a switch operable from one to the other of two contact positions, a signal device, and circuit means connecting said device to the switch of each station, said circuit means being controlled by the relative positioning of said switches to establish one or another of two circuits including said signal device, and wherein the inclusion of said signal device in one of said circuits will establish an alarm condition and the inclusion of said signal device in the other of said circuits will effect a routine signal.

14. A watchmans signalling system comprising a routine signal element, an alarm signal element, a transmitter station, at least one preliminary station, an auxiliary station, each of said stations having a switch operable alternately to two contact positions, and circuit means connecting said signal elements to said switches so as to actuate said routine signal element when each of said switches is in either a selected or the alternate of its said two contact positions and to actuate said alarm signal element when either said transmitter station switch or said preliminary station switch is in its said selected position or the alternate thereof at the same time that the other of said two switches is respectively in its alternate or selected position, said auxiliary station switch being connected to said routine signal element and to said transmitter station switch so as to prevent actuation of said routine signal element thereby to produce an alarm condition whenever either said auxiliary station switch or said transmitter station switch is in its selected position at the same time that the other is in its alternate position.

15. A watchmans system according to claim 14 which comprises a fourth signalling station having a switch operable alternately to two positions as are said three switches, said fourth station switch also having supplemental contacts alternately opened and closed in said operation of said fourth switch to said two positions, said contacts being connected in series with said auxiliary switch and with said alarm signal element so as to actuate said alarm element whenever said fourth switch is operated to a predetermined one of its two positions.

16. A signal transmitting station for a watchmans signalling system comprising a code transmitter and a power drive therefor, a lock having a rotatable shaft, means responsive to rotation of the shaft and operatively connectible to said power drive to move said power drive to transmitter driving position and disconnectible from said power drive during transmission of a signal, and means operatively connected to said power drive and effective to engage said means responsive to rotation of said shaft when said drive is in driving operation to prevent repeated rotation of said shaft in the operation of said lock until a signal has been transmitted.

17. A signal transmitting station for a watchmans signalling system comprising a code transmitter and a power drive therefor, a lock having a rotatable shaft, means responsive to rotation of said shaft and operatively connectible to said power drive to move said power drive to transmitter driving position, a locking element operatively connected to said means responsive to rotation of the shaft to be movable concomitantly therewith, means actuated by said power drive during operation thereof to transmit the signal efiective upon a predetermined return rotation of said shaft toward its initial position in the operation of the lock to engage said locking element to lock said means responsive to the rotation of the shaft against repeated movement thereof by operation of the shaft during trans mission of the signal and effective to release said locking element after transmission of the signal.

18. A signal transmitting station for a watchmans signalling system comprising a code transmitter for transmitting signals, power means for driving said code transmitter, a lock having a rotatable member rotated upon operation of the lock, means operatively connected to said rotatable member for movement concomitantly therewith in the operation of the lock and connectible to said power driving means to energize said power driving means upon rotation of said rotatable member in the operation of the lock and disconnectible from said power driving means during operation of said power driving means to transmit the signal, a locking element operatively connected to said rotatable member of said lock for movement concomitantly therewith, means actuated by said power driving means during transmission of a signal to engage said locking element to prevent reoperation of the lock by rotation of said rotatable member, and means actuated by said power driving means and efiective upon a predetermined operation of said power driving means in transmitting the signal for disengaging said locking element engaging means from said locking element to release said rotatable member for reoperation of the lock.

19. A signal transmitting station for a watchmans signalling system comprising a code transmitter having driving means operable to a signal initiating position and thereupon efiective to operate the transmitter to transmit a given signal, manually operable means, means operatively connected to said manually operable means and connectible to said driving means upon operation of said manually operable means for operating said driving means to said signal initiating position and disconnectible from said driving means during transmission of the signal, and means effective upon such disconnection for locking said means operatively connected to said manually operable means against reactuation thereo during transmission of the signal.

20. A signal transmitting station for a watchmans signalling system comprising a code transmitter having driving means operable to a signal initiating position and thereupon effective to operate the transmitter to transmit a given signal, manually operable means, means operatively connected to said manually operable means and connectible to said driving means upon operation of said manually operable means for operating said driving means to said signal initiating position and disconnectible from said driving means during transmission of the signal, means effective upon such disconnection for locking said means operatively connected to said manually operable means against reactuation thereof during transmission of the signal, and means actuated by said driving means upon a predetermined operation thereof to transmit the signal for actuating said locking means to release said manually operable means for reactuation thereof.

21. A signal transmitting station as defined in claim 19 which comprises switch contacts actuated by said code transmitter adapted to be connected in a circuit to transmit the signal.

22. A signal transmitting station as defined in claim 19 which comprises a switch having two contact positions, and means operatively connected to said switch and to said manually operable means and effective upon operation of said manually operable means to change said switch from one contact position to the other.

23. A watchmans signalling system comprising a transmitter station, a plurality of preliminary stations, said transmitter and preliminary stations each having a switch operable from one to another of two contact positions, means respectively associated with said stations and operatively connected to and operable to change the respective switches from one contact position to another, a signal device operable to produce a routine signal and an alarm signal, and a circuit so connecting said signal device with said switches that when each preliminary station switch is in a selected contact position upon operation of the transmitter station to change its switch to said selected contact position from the other contact position a routine signal is transmitted to said signal device and should any of the switches fail to be in the selected position upon such operation of the transmitter an alarm signal is transmitted to said signal device.

EDWARD A. SCHACHINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

